Public transport systems around the world

As much as we hate being wedged against a stranger’s body while taking public transport, sometimes it’s our only choice. And as a tourist, it’s often the most efficient way to travel and save money in a foreign country. Above all, the opportunity to observe your surroundings and immerse yourself in the locals’ way of life is more valuable and a hundred times more interesting than sitting in an overpriced Uber. Here is a list of some efficient and easy transport systems from around the world that are guaranteed not to break your travel budget.

Above all, the opportunity to observe your surroundings and immerse yourself in the locals’ way of life is more valuable and a hundred times more interesting than sitting in an overpriced Uber.

Singapore

Being geographically compact, it is very easy to get around Singapore. Did you know that it only takes 2 hours to get from the East to the West side of the country? The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) covers the whole country, consisting of 5 main coloured lines and 3 sub-lines. If taking the train is not your thing, hop onto one of the buses that would take you on an exploratory journey to the heartlands of Singapore. Don’t worry if you happen to get lost in an unrecognisable part of the heartlands, just take a bus to the nearest MRT station and take the train back to familiar territory!

Prague

As the capital city of the Czech Republic, you would expect the transport system in Prague to be a convoluted, confusing mess. But surprisingly, a glance at its metro map proved me wrong. There are only 3 metro lines that serve the entire city: Line A (or the Green Line) runs through the heart of the city, followed by Line B and C which serve the rest of the city centre. Besides the metro, there are trams, trains, the railway and city buses if you intend to travel further to the outskirts. For tourists, there are long-term and short-term tourist passes available to purchase. You can choose between a 24-hour or 3 day short-term pass, which can be used on any type of public transportation.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Dubai Metro operates two lines (Green and Red) which runs underground in the city centre. It is fully automated and the cars on each train are split into classes: gold VIP, gilver and women and children. Dubai also has an extensive network of buses, trams and boats. Recently, the tram service was connected to two stations on the Red Line, increasing the overall efficiency of travel around Dubai.